As the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte entered its third day Wednesday, Sen. Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson commended his fellow senator-judges for keeping their cool amid the lengthy “lectures” from one of their colleagues.
Lacson underscored the importance of exercising restraint and maintaining composure amid such repeated pontificating from the senator-judge since the impeachment trial started last Monday.
“Day 3: I commend my fellow senator-judges for keeping our cool and not engage a colleague who has been lecturing us since Day 1 of the impeachment trial, as if being not members of the bar, we will be less judicious in rendering fair judgment,” Lacson said on X.
In Filipino: Lacson, Pinuri ang Kapwa Senator-Judges sa Pagiging Mahinahon sa Kabila ng Pagle-Lecture ng Kasamahan
Day 3: I commend my fellow senator-judges for keeping our cool and not engage a colleague who has been lecturing us since Day 1 of the impeachment trial, as if being not members of the bar, we will be less judicious in rendering fair judgment.
— PING LACSON (@iampinglacson) July 8, 2026
Also, Lacson said the issue of the 16-vote threshold for conviction in the Vice President’s impeachment trial has now been clarified after Impeachment Court Presiding Officer Francis Escudero’s response, and any party that believes the impeachment court committed grave abuse of discretion may question it before the Supreme Court.
Lacson noted that the matter has become a justiciable controversy, or a dispute that the High Court may have legal authority to settle and resolve.
“Ngayong settled at maliwanag na ang issue ay isa nang justiciable issue or controversy – kung merong party na gustong kwestyunin sa Korte Suprema kung sa tingin nila ay may ‘grave abuse of discretion’ ang impeachment court, malaya silang gawin yun (Now that it is settled and clear that the issue is a justiciable issue or controversy, any party that wishes to question it before the Supreme Court if they believe the Impeachment Court committed ‘grave abuse of discretion’ can do so),” he said.
On Tuesday, Lacson sought clarification on Escudero’s statement after he was elected as the court’s presiding officer – where he said a conviction requires the affirmative vote of at least 16 senator-judges. Escudero replied in the affirmative.
Lacson said he needed to clarify the matter – whether the threshold issue was Escudero’s legal opinion or whether it is a ruling by the impeachment court, especially because many people have asked him for clarification.
He also reiterated that he agrees with the view that 16 votes are needed for conviction because the Senate still has 24 members under the 20th Congress, including those who are detained – Jose “Jinggoy” Estrada and Rodante Marcoleta – as well as Ronald dela Rosa, who remains in hiding.
“Hindi ako tutol, bagkus nakikiisa ako sa pananaw na dapat 16 talaga ang bilang sa ngayon dahil kahit may nakakulong at nagtatago, kasama pa rin sila sa bilang ng 24 senators under the 20th Congress (I agree with the view that 16 votes are needed to convict because even if there are senators who are detained and in hiding, they are still considered senators in the 20th Congress),” he said.
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Lacson, Pinuri ang Kapwa Senator-Judges sa Pagiging Mahinahon sa Kabila ng Pagle-Lecture ng Kasamahan
Sa ikatlong araw ng impeachment trial ni Vice President Sara Duterte nitong Miyerkules, pinuri ni Sen. Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson ang kanyang mga kapwa senator-judges sa pagpapanatili ng kanilang kahinahunan sa kabila ng mahahabang “lecture” mula sa isa nilang kasamahan.
Binigyang-diin ni Lacson ang kahalagahan ng self-restraint pagpapanatili ng kahinahunan sa gitna ng paulit-ulit na pagbibigay ng mahahabang “paliwanag” ng naturang senator-judge mula pa nang magsimula ang impeachment trial noong nakaraang Lunes.
“Day 3: I commend my fellow senator-judges for keeping our cool and not engage a colleague who has been lecturing us since Day 1 of the impeachment trial, as if being not members of the bar, we will be less judicious in rendering fair judgment,” ani Lacson sa X.
Sinabi rin ni Lacson na luminaw na ang usapin tungkol sa 16 na boto na kinakailangan para mahatulan ang Bise Presidente matapos ang tugon ni Impeachment Court Presiding Officer Francis Escudero, at sinumang naniniwalang nakagawa ang impeachment court ng grave abuse of discretion ay maaaring kuwestiyunin ito sa Korte Suprema.
Ani Lacson, ang usapin ay isa nang “justiciable controversy,” o isang usaping maaaring dinggin, pasyahan, at resolbahin ng Korte Suprema sa ilalim ng kapangyarihan nito.
“Ngayong settled at maliwanag na ang issue ay isa nang justiciable issue or controversy – kung merong party na gustong kwestyunin sa Korte Suprema kung sa tingin nila ay may ‘grave abuse of discretion’ ang impeachment court, malaya silang gawin yun,” aniya.
Noong Martes, humingi si Lacson ng paglilinaw sa pahayag ni Escudero matapos itong mahalal bilang presiding officer ng impeachment court, kung saan sinabi nitong kailangan ang hindi bababa sa 16 na boto ng mga senator-judge upang magkaroon ng hatol na pagkakasala. Sinagot ito ni Escudero nang nagpapatibay na 16 nga ang kinakailangang bilang.
Ayon kay Lacson, kinailangan niyang humingi ng paglilinaw upang matukoy kung ang isyu sa voting threshold ay sariling legal na opinyon lamang ni Escudero o isa nang pasya ng impeachment court, lalo na’t marami ang nagtatanong sa kanya ukol dito.
Inulit din niya na sang-ayon siya sa pananaw na 16 na boto ang kinakailangan upang magkaroon ng hatol na pagkakasala dahil nananatiling may 24 na miyembro ang Senado sa ilalim ng ika-20 Kongreso, kabilang ang mga nakakulong na sina Jose “Jinggoy” Estrada at Rodante Marcoleta, gayundin si Ronald dela Rosa na nananatiling nagtatago.
“Hindi ako tutol, bagkus nakikiisa ako sa pananaw na dapat 16 talaga ang bilang sa ngayon dahil kahit may nakakulong at nagtatago, kasama pa rin sila sa bilang ng 24 senators under the 20th Congress,” aniya.
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